Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investigations his Department has undertaken into incidents involving civilian death or injury as a result of the use by British forces of enhanced blast munitions in Afghanistan.

Bob Ainsworth: UK forces thoroughly investigate all reports of civilian casualties in Afghanistan, regardless of their potential cause. We regret incidents where civilians are accidentally killed as a result of actions by UK armed forces. In addition to investigating all reports of civilian casualties, procedures are in place, and being constantly updated in the light of experience, to minimise the risk of these casualties occurring.
	As at the same date, 49 cases required more than 40 days on top of the statutory 20 working day period and have now been closed. As of 30 January 2009, a further 69 cases remained open in which the statutory 20 working day period and a further 40 working days had passed.
	The exact text of each of the 791 requests in the categories listed above, and the detailed reasons for each extension, could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I will write to the hon. Member to provide a short summary of each request for information received in 2008 that was classified as 'not resolvable' or 'withheld in full', and list any exemptions that applied. I will also set out simplified reasons for those that have required more than 40 working days on top of the statutory 20 working day period.